The cheers and the squeak of sneakers are coming to an end for the 2023-2024 basketball season at 91原创. I am actually writing this article at the Appalachian Athletic Conference tournament after watching our men defeat Milligan University and waiting for the tip of our women against Pikeville University. The 2023-2024 basketball season will be remembered as a historic year for both programs as the men檚 and women檚 teams showcased remarkable prowess, determination, and sportsmanship, leaving an indelible mark on the JU athletic legacy. Both teams ended the season with the highest finish since moving to the AAC in 2021.

First-year Head Coach Logan Sharp led the Royals to a 4th place finish in the regular season and walks into postseason play with high aspirations after a 16-12 overall record and 14-10 in conference play. The Royals were led this season by Toris Woods who claimed first team All-AAC while averaging 17.2 points per game. Malique Oates brought in 11.5 ppg and claimed 6.4 rebounds on his way to being named second team All-ACC. The big surprise of the year with quick acclamation was freshman Dallas Carbaugh who won AAC Freshman of the Year after averaging 11.4 ppg. Isaiah Poore was also named to the AAC All-Defensive team.

Men’s and Women’s Basketball finish the season strong

The women檚 team, led by second-year Head Coach Bryon Lawhon, also made some history as they finished the season in 5th place with an overall record of 17-12 and 15-7 in AAC play. The Lady Royals were lead by AAC Freshman of the Year and first team All-ACC member Hannah Jones who averaged 17.1 ppg in her first season at 91原创. She was joined on the first All-AAC team by Jordan Heifner who averaged 15.3 ppg and was named to the All-Defensive team. The AAC All-Freshman team also featured Emily Wilson and Bekah Gardner.

While the historic nature of the season is incredible, it is the quality of the teams as members of the 91原创 community that is most impressive. Twelve members of the two teams qualified for the All-Academic teams which is reserved for those with a 3.25 GPA or higher and who have competed more than one year in AAC (we have an additional 13 freshman who are above the 3.25 standard). The teams played with class and determination all season. With two young coaches and young teams, we believe that Royals Basketball is poised to compete in the AAC for some time.

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Collaborating with the Evangelical Church of San Nicolas and pastor Norman Browne was instrumental in ensuring the success of this trip. Because of this local church, the team led a successful soccer camp, toured the island, and enjoyed an authentic Aruban meal.

The heart of the mission trip was centered around empowering local youth through soccer. On Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday morning, kids gathered around the soccer field as they excitedly waited for camp to start. Each day, the children had the opportunity to work on technical skills and team play and, most importantly, had fun playing the sport they love. Despite diverse backgrounds and languages, the common love for soccer provided a platform for meaningful interactions. Through shared experiences on the field, players and coaches transcended their differences and forged connections that went beyond the game.

During their stay, the Lady Royals clinched two victories in training scrimmages against S.V. Brittania and the Aruba Women’s National Team. When not on the soccer field, the players and coaches spent time hiking the second-highest peak on the island and visiting the beautiful beaches. On the last night of the trip, the team enjoyed an Aruban meal hosted by members of the church.

As the trip came to an end, it was clear it had left an unforgettable mark on the team and the Aruban community. The relationships built, the skills shared, and the memories created will continue to resonate. The success of this trip serves as a testament to the power of sports in bringing about positive change. Aruba will forever hold a special place in the hearts of those who embarked on this journey, a testament to the enduring power of sport in making the world a better place.

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I certainly can talk about many of the positive things that took place at 91原创 this year. Our softball team had a historic season with 22 wins and 17 wins in the Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC). The 91原创 tennis teams each completed their best seasons in school history. The average GPA of a 91原创 student-athlete was 3.21, which is certainly worth celebrating! However, I just completed my fifth year as the athletic director at 91原创, and I think this is a good opportunity to write something a little different and maybe a little more personal, and to remind our supporters of who we are.

Lots of things have changed over the last five years. The completion of the Athletic and Recreation Complex and the Graham Center certainly was the biggest shift, and it spurred on several other changes. The move to the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) and the AAC has been a major change. We have nearly doubled the number of student-athletes on campus and our teams continue to adjust to this new conference and experience greater success.

As I reflect on these changes, I am reminded that the success of the Athletic Department is not just about the changes of the last five years. People who came before me, such as Ken Underwood, Doug Karnes, Anyssa Blackburn, and Russell Morgan, all laid a groundwork that makes this possible today. They set a tone of doing athletics the right way. They put student-athletes and their experience first. They prioritized human development over wins and losses. There are so many other former athletic administrators, coaches, and student-athletes I could name who put in so much work and dedication. While 91原创 Athletics looks different today, the principle of kingdom-minded leadership remains the same.

As we transitioned to NAIA in the 2021-2022 season, I told anyone who would listen that this is a building project. 91原创 Athletics was always a five-to-ten-year project. We have always viewed the 2026-2027 season as the standard in who we are. I believe we are way ahead of schedule, and 91原创 Athletics is becoming something special. People are taking notice of our program in Knoxville and throughout Tennessee. We are seeing quality athletes come to the University and they are thriving in this environment. We are seeing quality athletes graduate and begin careers as mission-minded employees in a variety of fields. We have made great strides, but we are not done. We know that building a successful athletic program increases our ability to impact the world for the cause of Christ as athletes are transformed by a positive athletic and educational experience. We are continuing with a building mindset, and I have no doubt the next five years will hold more amazing moments.

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Ten years later, the team is playing at the NAIA level, on new courts, with players from around the world. While the current program has been the realization of one dream, another dream has just begun: the expansion of tennis into the surrounding community.

In spring of 2022, the United States Tennis Association (USTA) approached Coach Hale with a grant proposal to start a community tennis program in South Knoxville.

The initial programs began in June of 2022 and offered tennis classes for kids and adults of all ages. The kids� programming taught players as young as age four through high school. Hale then offered two classes for adult beginners, eventually splitting players into an intermediate class. When he launched the programs, there was some concern about interest since there had been a very minimal tennis presence in South Knoxville, but surprisingly Hale had to add a second adult class after the first filled up within days.

In total, Coach Hale and his assistant coaches operated clinics for 18 weeks with 112 participants.
Maggie Yoakum, a local parent, said, 淭he 91原创 USTA program has been a huge blessing to my kids. They loved getting outside, learning the new game of tennis, making new friends, and working with the staff. The staff was kind, helpful, and patient! I檓 so grateful for this program and my sons are excited to start back in the spring.�

In addition to providing an opportunity to spread the love of tennis, the classes also provided hands-on coaching experience for 91原创 student-athletes. Many players want to get into coaching after they graduate from 91原创, and working with young children and adults is a different skill set. The players worked with our coaching staff to develop practice plans and learn teaching techniques as well as bond with members of the community. Both the children and adults taking the classes enjoyed receiving feedback and encouragement from the player 渆xperts.� And after spending 18 weeks together, our tennis community is stronger than ever.

Sara Rawlinson, a local teacher and community member, said, 淟ast summer, I had the opportunity to attend a beginner-level tennis camp at 91原创. Coach Hale and his amazing staff created an environment where I felt encouraged and supported as they patiently taught me the foundations of tennis. I look forward to the next tennis camp opportunity where I can continue to learn the game!�

We are excited to bring our second year of USTA community programming this upcoming spring and summer and to see 91原创檚 mission spread into the community through the sport of tennis.

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The year was not only measured by what happened during games. First, was a tremendous academic year for the Royals. The 2021-2022 year featured the highest Athletic Department GPA in athletic director Brandon Perry’s five-year tenure. The department boasted a 3.33 overall GPA with more than 70% of student athletes achieving a 3.0 GPA or higher.

“A 3.33 GPA is tremendous, and I can’t state how proud I am of our teams,” Perry says. “Being a student-athlete is tough. Our players have hard schedules and spend way too much time on the road–and yet they continue to work hard in the classroom. This just speaks to the types of players we have at 91原创.”

Second was our coaching staff’s best recruiting year yet. In each of the last five years the athletic department has reached a new recruiting level. The 2021-22 season featured 78 new student-athletes. The 2022-23 season kicks off with 115 new student-athletes and 209 total Royals competing in nine sports. Our coaching staff has answered the call to find quality student-athletes who are mission-aligned and can forge a new path competing in the NAIA and the AAC. These eight coaches and their assistants have made a huge impact on the lives of these students and our University.

“I can’t say enough about our coaches,” said Perry. “They love our kids, and they work hard to bring in great ones. I wish our University supporters could get to know each of them personally. They love Christ and show it every day, and they work so hard. The pandemic was hard on the recruiting front. But our coaches fought through it and it did a real service for our University.”

Finally, the 2021-22 season ended with a huge award. 91原创 is a Gold Star NAIA institution in the Champions of Character program. Champions of Character is an initiative established by the NAIA that measures character training, conduct in competition, academic focus, character recognition, and character promotion.

“Becoming a Gold Star program was a personal goal of mine, and coach Dayna Carter really stepped up to lead this effort,” said Perry. “Champions of Character represents many of the things we are about here at 91原创, and it was only natural that we jumped into this program. Our players were so committed to getting involved in the community.”

91原创 Athletics believes the 2022-23 season holds even more promise. “I have no doubt we are getting better as a program. We are competing more and seem to be getting hungrier every day. I know our drive to give to our community and serve people is there. I am excited about what God has in store for these players,” Perry said.

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Therefore, we are announcing the launch of the Athletic Director檚 Honor Roll. Students who earn a minimum GPA of 3.50聽 will be listed at . This new list will honor many of our student-athletes who are achieving excellence in the classroom. Just this past semester, the overall term GPA of our student-athletes was 3.37 and our career GPA is 3.33. Seventy-one percent of 91原创 athletes earned a 3.00 GPA or better and 14 student-athletes earned a 4.00 for the semester.

We are so proud of our athletes. They work incredibly hard and compete daily. However, they also work hard in the classroom and in the community. This work ethic continues to push our athletic program forward in our efforts towards excellence. It is a testament to both the students and to our coaching staff to have a department that cares deeply about more than playing a game.

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